Manual release valve for railway air brake systems



April 21, 1953 J WADE 2,635,925

MANUAL RELEASE VALVE FOR RAILWAY AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS Filed Dec. 15, 1949 2SHEETS--SHEET 1 Zhwentor:

' ,mmss r W405 BB Mm attotnegs.

April 21, 1953 T, WADE 2,635,925

MANUAL RELEASE VALVE FOR RAILWAY AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS Filed Dec. 15, 1949 2SHEETS--SHEET 2 I I50 1 J% I I 700 la I 0 Zinnentor:

I ttomegs.

Patented Apr. 21, 195 3 RELEASE VALVE FOR RAILWAY AIR BRAKE SYSTEMSJames T. Wade, Ogden, Utah Application December 13, 1949, Serial No.132,691

'7 Claims.

This invention relatesto railway air brake systems, and particularly tomanual release valves as employed in such systems.

Railway air brake systems utilizing currently standard equipment embodymanually-operable valves for enabling an airman at an'inspection point,or a member of the train crewduring a run, to-exhaust air fromtheauxiliary reservoir without regard to provisions for automatic exhaustof air during normal operation of the system. Manual discharge orbleeding of air from the auxiliary reservoir becomes important when atrain has pulled into a terminal and awaits inspection, with theenginedisconnected from the rest of-the train, as well as later, when thetrain has pulled away from the terminal and it is found that one or'moreof the cars still have the brakes set. In addition, there are varioustimes during a run when the brakes on one or more of the cars may, forone reason or another, remain set, and must be released manually; forexample, when a train is pulling back into the main track from a passsiding.

As presently constructed, the manual release valve of a railway airbrake system requires an attendant to stand and hold the release valvehandle until the requiredamount of air is exhausted from the auxiliaryreservoir.

In instances of inspection, an airman must stand and hold such handleuntil all the air is exhausted, and repeat this, in turn, for each carof the train, which, obviously, involvesa considerable Waste of time,especially where there are two reservoirs to'be emptied, auxiliary andemergency, as in the case of the Westinghouse AB freight brakeequipment.

In instances where the train is moving, and it is found that the brakeson one or more of the cars are set, it is necessary for a trainman torun alongside the train, manipulating the release valve handle, until asuflicient amount of .air is bled from .the auxiliary reservoir toinitiate brake cylinder exhaust. This is a dangerous proposition. Often,impediments alongside the track force the trainman -to .let v go thehandle and clamber aboard the .rearmost .car, where he can apply the airto stopthe train. During the interim, of course, thesetbrakes ontheparticular car or cars cause the wheels to slide, resulting inflattening thereof.

I eliminate these objectionable features of existing equipment byinterposing. a delayed-return mechanism between the usual handle of.a-conventional manual release valve and the valveactuatingmechanismthereof. By means of the resulting novel structural combination in.railway air brake equipment, an attendant need merely with-the manualrelease of anybrakes which may remain set at the commencement ofa run.

To greatly reducethe occurrence of flat wheels in railway operation.

'Inaccomplishin these objects -I combine with the customary manualrelease valve a suitable delayed-return mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple and positivedelayed-return mechanism admirably adaptedfor the purpose.

Additional objects and features of-the invention will become apparentfromthe following detailed clescriptionof the-presently preferredembodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 represents an elevation of a typical installation embodying myinvention;

Fig. '2, a horizontal section taken on the line 22-of'Fig. 1;

Fig. 3, a vertical section through the structure of Fig. 1, taken withreference to theline 3-3 of Fig. 2 and drawn to an enlarged scale; and

Fig. 4, a view corresponding to that of Fig. 3, but illustrating therelease valve tripped to the extent of opening the portcontrollingexhaust of the auxiliary reservoir.

Referring to the drawings, in which the invention is illustrated as partof the modern. AB freight car brake equipment of a standard Westinghouseair brake system, the duplex release valve customarily provided in theservice portion of such equipment comprises a valve housing Ill havingoperably positioned therein release checks II and I2 controlling exhaustpassages I3 and I l, respectively, leading from the auxiliary andemergencyreservoirs (not shown), respectively, of the equipment.

A plunger it having two upstanding stems its and I 5b is providedforopening eithercne or both of the release checks 1H and ltdependinguponhow far the plungerispushed upwardly on 3 any given actuation of thevalve, it being noted that the check H, which controls the auxiliaryreservoir exhaust passage I3, is positioned at a lower level than checkl2, and is opened by the stem |5a prior to the opening of check l2 bystem |5b on the upward travel of plunger l5.

As normally constructed, the duplex release valve possesses a handlearranged for manual actuation in directly raising the plunger |5 thedesired distance to open either one or both of the release checks II andI2. In operation, an airman or trainman must hold the handle in itsactuated position until the requisite quantity of air is exhausted.

In accordance with my invention, I interpose a delayed-return mechanismbetween the said handle and the plunger l5, whereby the handle needmerely be given a flip to insure exhaust of air for a given period oftime. By pre-establishing to the time required for releasing the brakes,the period involved in return of the said mechanism to its originalposition (and, therewith, the plunger l5 and the actuating handle totheir respective original positions) from the position concerned inopening the release check II, a trainman who finds brakes remaining setwhen the train starts up need merely give the handle a quick flip toinsure complete release of the brakes. An airman has the time he mustspend in completely discharging the auxiliary and emergency reservoirsfor inspection purposes greatly shortened.

While a variety of well-known delayed-return mechanisms may be easilyadapted for the purpose by those skilled in the art, the particularmechanism which I here illustrate is especially advantageous for reasonshereinafter set forth.

As illustrated, see especially Figs. 3 and 4, the manually-actuatedhandle, indicated |6, depends from the lower open end of a cylindricalcasing H, which is rigidly but removably attached, as by threading, tothe lower open end of an intermediate cylindrical casing [8 containingthe delayed-return mechanism. Such intermediate casing I8 is rigidly butremovably attached, also preferably by threading, to the customarydepending annular portion llia of valve housing It.

Within intermediate casing I8 is defined a chamber IQ for a plunger 29,which is fixed intermediate the length of a push-rod 2|. As shown, theupper end of the chamber I9 is closed by an end wall |8a of the casingl8, such end wall being integral with the casing proper. A centralopening 22 is provided through such end wall i801. for passage of theupper portion of the push-rod 2|. The lower end of the chamber I9 isclosed by a plug made up of two annular pieces 23 and 24, between whichis interposed an annular packing gland 25. The pieces 23 and 24 arethreaded into the open upper end of easing H, and serve to compress thepacking gland 25 into sealing contact with the lower portion of push-rod2|.

Th closed upper end of casing I8 is advantageously recessed to receivedepending annular portion lila of the valve housing It as a pressureagency for bearing tightly against washer 26 and compressing packinggland 21 into sealing contact with the upper portion of push-rod 2|.

The chamber I9 is adapted to be filled with a hydraulic medium, asshown. A light grade of lubricating oil is preferred, the same beingconvenlently introduced through an opening which is normally closed byplug 28.

In permitting proper movement of the pushrod 2| when pushed upwardly byhandle I5, adequate passage for rapid flow of the hydraulic 4 mediumfrom the upper portion of chamber l9, above plunger 20, to thelower-portion thereof, below plunger 20, is provided. As illustrated, aplurality of flow passages 29 extend vertically through plunger 20, thesame being normally closed at their upper ends by balls 3|] seating upwardly against annular lips 3| under the urge of springs 32 held inplace by annular inserts 33. Thus, the balls 30 function as checkvalves, permitting flow downwardly through the passages 29, butpreventing flow upwardly therethrough.

For delaying the return of push-rod 2| to its original position afterbeing pushed upwardly by handle l5, restricted passage for relativelyslow flow from the lower portion of chamber H] to the upper portionthereof is provided. As illustrated, a predetermined limited degree ofclearance 34 between plunger 20 and the walls of chamber l9 within whichit operates, provides such restricted passage. j

The upper end of push-rod 2| is positioned in abutting relationship withdepending boss |5c of the valve-actuating plunger l5, while the lowerend thereof is positioned in abutting relationship with the concavecrown member lea of handle l6. Such handle it is operably suspended fromthe lower open end of easing ll by means of an annular insert member 35,which furnishes support for the crown member Via. Such insert member 35has a passage 36 therethrough sufficiently large in diameter toaccommodate the required sideward movement of handle stem |6b when thehandle member idc is manually flipped to open either the release checkalone, or both the release checks H and |2, together.

In operation, handle i6 acts directly upon push-rod 21, which, in turn,acts upon the valveactuating plunger I5. Upward travel of the pushrod isfacilitated by downfiow of the hydraulic medium through passages 29 ofthe delayed-return plunger 20, while the return of push-rod 2| to itsoriginal position is delayed by the necessity of the hydraulic mediumbelow plunger 20 to return to the upper portion of chamber It by way ofrestricted passage 34.

The simple construction of the illustrated delayed-return mechanism, andthe ease with which it may be disassembled and reassembled are distinctadvantages. It is absolutely positive in operation, and requires littleattention to maintain.

Furthermore, it is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and install.

Whereas this invention is here illustrated and described with respect toa certain presently preferred specific embodiment thereof, it should beunderstood that various changes may be made therein and various otherforms may be constructed on the basis of the teachings hereof, by thoseskilled in the art, without departing from the protective scope of thefollowing claims.

I claim:

1. In a railway air brake system, a manual release valve, comprisingcheck valve means normally closing exhaust of reservoir air from saidsystem; trip means for said check valve means; handle means arranged formanual actuation; and a delayed return mechanism interposed between andoperably interconnecting said handle means and said trip means, saiddelayed return mechanism comprising a housing having a fluidsealedsection; a rigid actuating rod extending longitudinally through saidhousing and beyond said fluid-sealed section at opposite ends thereof,said rod interconnecting the handle means and the trip means; a plungerfixed to said actuating rod and slidable within said fluid-sealedsection thereof as a, cylinder; a hydraulic fluid within saidfiuidsealed section of the housing; free flow passage means extendingfrom one end to the opposite end of said plunger for accommodatingpassage of hydraulic fluid during movement of the plunger, check meansassociated with said passage means for permitting fluid flow in only onedirection; and restricted passage means also extending from one end tothe opposite end of said plunger, for accommodating a considerablylesser flow of hydraulic fluid during movement of the plunger.

2. The combination recited in claim 1, wherein the housing is made up oftwo tubular sections removably fastened together endto-end; wherein acylinder for the plunger is defined by one of said sections, and amounting for the handle means by the other; and wherein cylinder-sealingmeans are interposed between the interiors of the two sections, dividingone from the other.

3. The combination recitedin claim 2, wherein the check valve meanscontrolling exhaust of reservoir air from the system are disposed in ahousing having an annular projection extending opposite the trip means;wherein the free end of the cylinder section of the delayed-returnmechanism is removably attached to said annular projection; whereincylinder-sealing means are interposed between said end of the cylindersection and said annular projection; and wherein the actuating rodextends slidably through the sealing means at opposite ends of saidcylinder, into connection with said trip means at one of its ends, andinto connections with said handle means at its opposite end. i

4. The combination recited in claim 3, wherein the free flow passagemeans are relatively large bore passages extending through the body ofthe plunger; and wherein relatively slight clearance between the plungerand the walls of the cylinder in which it slides provides saidrestricted passage means.

5. The combination recited in claim 4, where-- in the handle meanscomprises a stem having a disk crown, and wherein the actuating rod isarranged as a push-rod, with its one end abutting against the tripmeans, and its opposite end abutting against the superficial surface ofthe disk crown of said handle means.

6. The combination recited in claim 5, wherein an annular insert ispositioned at the free end of the handle-mounting housing section forretaining the handle means in operative position, the disk crown of saidhandle means being disposed within said housing section, and the stemthereof extending from said housing section through said annular insert.

7. Delayed-return, valve-actuating mechanism, comprising a, cylindricalhousing having a portion of its length fluid-sealed as a hydrauliccylinder, one end portion formed as a housing for actuating handlemeans, and the opposite end portion formed for connection to valvestructure; a push-rod extending longitudinally through said fluid-sealedportion of the housing and beyond, into said end portions of thehousing, for longitudinal sliding movement; a hydraulic fluid withinsaid cylinder; a plunger fixed to said pushrod within said cylinder;free flow passage means extending from one end to the opposite end ofsaid plunger for accommodating passage of hydraulic fluid duringmovement of the plunger; check means associated with said passage means,said check means being arranged to permit fluid flow only toward saidone end portion of the housing; restricted passage means also extendingfrom one end to the opposite end of said plunger, for accommodating aconsiderably lesser flow of hydraulic fluid during movement of theplunger; and actuating handle means operably mounted within andextending from the free end of said one end portion of the housing.

JAMES F. WADE.

References Cited in the file of this patent FOREIGN PATENTS Number

